falls



A. s. FALLS.

DESK.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, I9I7.

Patented May 10, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. s, FALLS.

DESK. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1917- Patented May 10 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ll-l. ill-I A. S. FALLS.

v DESK. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24,19l7.

Patented May 10, 1921,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. s. FALLS.

DESK.

APPLlCATION FILED N0v.24.191r.

Patented May 10, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER S. FALLS, 0F GLENCOE, ILLINOIS.

DESK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1921.

Application filed November 24, 1917. Serial No. 203,767.

T 0 all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ALEXANDER S. FALLS, acitizen of the United States, residing at 'Glencoe, in the countyof Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Desks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a desk and provides an improved desk for use inconnection with a typewriting machine, particularly a machine for makingtypewritten entries on ledger sheets or similar typewriting operations,the desk being so constructed that when the typewriting machine is notin use the desk may be employed for bookkeeping, or other clericaloperations requiring-a flat surface of considerable area on which theclerk may place his books or papers in the usual way. A principal objectof the invention is to provide a desk of this sort which will be compactin its structure, convenient to manipulate and strong and durable in itsconstruction.

A further object of theinvention is to furnish a desk which will providesupporting surfaces on opposite sides of the typewriting machine,preferably at different levels, for reasons which will hereinafterappear, and in addition, a folding combination cover and desk top which,besides covering the typewriting machine when the latter is not in use,provides a flat surface, preferably inclined downwardly toward the frontof the desk, for clerical operations of a general. character.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements anddevices to be hereinafter described and claimed, for carrying out theabove stated objects and such other incidental objects as will appearfrom the following description.

The invention is shown in a preferred embodiment, in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view, in-perspective, of the desk withthe combined cover and desk top folded back so that the typewritingmachine may be used. i

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the desk. 7 Fig. 3 is a plan view of thesame with the folding top partly broken away,

Fig. 4: is a cross sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.. I

, Fig. 5 'is a detail sectional view, taken ondan enlarged scale, online 55 of Fig. 2, an

Fig. 6 is a plan view, with parts in sectron, of the upper right handcorner of the back of the desk, with associated parts, showing the latchfor holding in its upright position the folding leaf which supports thecover or desk top.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several figuresof the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the desk comprises two boX-like desk sections1O, 11, suitably supported for exarrnple, on bases 12, 13, and connectedby a back 14, reinforced by horizontal members 15, 16, which also serveas stops for the typewriting machine when put in place on the desk. Thetop member 1'? of the left hand desk section is preferably at a higherlevel than the top member 18 of the desk section 11. The desk sectionsare provided with drawers, covers, or the like. I have shown the section10 furnished with drawers 19. The desk section 11 is constructed so asto provide a cupboard 20 in which is preferably arranged a book rack '21furnished with rollers 22 for convenience in handling the books. Theback member 14 of the desk extends above the desk section 10 and hashinged thereto, by hinges 23, a combination cover and desk toppreferably made up of two folding leaves 24, 25, united by flush hinges26, of well known type. On. the top member 17 of the left hand desksection is an end member 27 which is of diminished width from the backof'the desk toward the front and provides a support for one edge of thecover 2%, 25, when the latter is folded down over the typewritingmachine. The typewriting machine, in its usual position, is shown indotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3. The inner side piece 28 of the right handdesk section has an extension 29 above the top member 18 of saidsection. This extension is considerably narrower than the depth of thedesk having substantially the width only of the cross brace 16 to whichit is attached. It is further narrowed above the cross piece 16, asshown at 80. For supporting the right hand edge of the desk top 24, 25,I preferably provide a leaf 31 or end member considering its function asa support for the right hand end of the cover 25, 26, formed preferablywith the bulge or extension 31 at its forward edge, this leafbeing'hinged at 32 to a block 33 at and adapted to be engaged by a stud87 arranged in a housing 38 in the corner of the folding leaf 31, thestud being furnished with a transverse pin 39 against which bears acoiled spring 10. The desk top 24,25 is held in its raised position by adiagonally arranged support consisting of links 41, 42, hinged to theback member 1 1 and to leaf 2a of the desk top, respectively, and hingedto one another, as shown at .8. The folding leaf 31 is preferablyprovided with pads 4. 1 at its outer edge for supporting the leaf on astrip 44". on the top member 18 when the leaf is folded down upon thesame, as shown in Fig. l and by the dotted outline in Fig. 2. The outerleaf of the desk top is preferably provided, for convenience in foldingvand unfolding the top, with a knob 15. The top member 17 is providedwith an extension member 16 hinged to member 17 preferably by means offlush hinges l7 and supported in its extended position on a bracket 48.The extension piece 4:6 is hinged to member 17 in order that thetypewriting machine may be removed from the desk when necessary.

I preferably provide the desk with a,

paper'holding rack which may be built into one of the drawers 19, asshown in Fig. 4:. The paper rack comprises a plurality of shelves 419 ofincreasing depth from top to bottom, and composed preferably of sheetmetal with the forward edges of the sheets turned over or beaded, asshown at 50. The shelves are arranged between side pieces 51 and form aplurality of pockets of varying depth to accommodate sheets of paper ofdifferent sizes. The back of each pocket is closed by a strip 52, theinner surface of which is inclined so that the pocket will be deeper atthe bottom than at the top. When the pile of paper sheets is pushedagainst the back strip the forward edge of the pile has the sameinclination as the back strip of the pocket which facilitates theremoval of the sheets one by one. The rack may be finished by a woodenback piece 53, and a top piece 54:.

The back leaf 24 of the desk top is pref erably provided at its rearedge with a projecting-strip or rim 55 and the side edges with strips56.

When the desk is used for making typewritten entries on ledger sheets,or for similar typewriting operations, the desk top or cover 24:, 25will be raised to the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2. Thefolding leaf 31 will, in this case, rest upon the top member 18 of theright hand desk section and may be used to support a ledger or rack forledger sheets, the latter being shown at 57 in this position on thedesk, the angular extension or bulge 31 being for the purpose ofproviding a more conveniently shaped support for the ledger rack. Theoperator will use the top member 17 of the left hand desk section andits extension piece46 for his copy.

When the desk is to be used for ordinary clerical work the combinedcover and desk top 24, 25 will be folded down to the position shown inthe full lines in Figs. 3 and 4c; The leaf 31, in such case, will beturned up to its vertical position and the dowel 34 engaged with theforward right hand corner of the desk top. In this position of the partsthe desk is an ordinary bookkeepers desk and may be used as such.

I claim:

1. In a desk the combination of end and back members, a desk section thetop of which is lower than the upper edge of the end and back membersand which is arranged adjacent one end of the desk to provide a spacefor a type writing machine, said top being provided at its inner edgewith an extension piece making said top effectively wider at the frontthan the back for the purpose described, and a combined bookkeepers desktop and cover hinged to the back of the desk and adapted to be supportedby the end members.

2. In a typewriters and bookkeepers desk a structure comprising a backmember and end members providing a space for a typewriting machineinclosed at the back and ends and open in front from the top of thestructure down to the floor, in combination with means providing asupporting surface at one side of said space below the upper edges ofsaid structure and a folding cover and bookkeepers desk top adapted tobe folded down upon said end members or back so as to uncover the spacebetween the same.

3. In a desk, the combination of two desk sections spaced apart toprovide room for a typewriting machine, a back member uniting saidsections, a combined desk top and cover which is hinged to the backmember so that it may be folded down over the space between saidsections or raised to uncover the same, and supporting means for saidcombined top and cover when it is folded down comprising a member hingedto one of said desk sections.

4. In a desk, the combination of two desk sections spaced apart toprovide room for a typewriting machine, a back member uniting saidsections, a combined desk top and cover which is hinged to the backmember so that it may be folded down over the space between saidsections or raised to uncover the same, and supporting means for the topwhen it is folded down comprising an upsections which folds down uponsaid section when the top is raised.

5. In a desk, the combination of two desk Lsections spaced apart toprovide room for a typewriting machine, the upper surfaces of saidsections being at different levees, a back member uniting said sections,and a combined desk top and cover which is hinged to the back member sothat it may be folded down over the typewriting machine supportedbetween said sections or raised to uncover the same.

6. In a desk, the combination of two desk sections spaced apart, a backmember uniting said sections, and a combined desk top and cover adaptedwhen closed to provide a space between one of said sections and saidcover comprising two leaves hinged together and one of them hinged tosaidback member.

7 In a desk, the combination of two desk sections spaced apart toprovide room for a typewriting machine, a back member uniting saidsections, and a combined desk top and cover which is hinged to the backmember so that it may be folded down over one of the sections and thespace'between said sections or be raised to uncover the same.

8. In a desk, the combination of two desk sections spaced apart toprovide room for a typewriting machine, a back member uniting saidsections, a combined desk top and cover which is hinged to the backmember so that it may be folded down over one of the sections and thespace between said sections or be raised to uncover the same, and meansfor supporting the top in its folded down position comprising a memberhinged to the other desk section.

9. In a desk, the combination of two desk sections spaced apart toprovide room for a typewriting machine, a back member uniting saidsections, a combined desk top and cover which is hinged to the backmember so that it may be folded down over one of the sections and thespace between said sections or be raised to uncover the same, and meansfor supporting the top in its folded down position comprising a leafhinged to the inner edge of the other desk section so that it may befolded down upon the same.

10. In a desk, the combination of two desk sections spaced apart, one ofwhich stands higher than the other, a back member uniting the same whichextends above the higher section, a side piece at the outer edge of thehigher section, a combined desk top and cover hinged to the back member,and a leaf hinged to the lower desk section so that it may be turned toa vertical position to support one edge of the top or be turned downupon the desk section to which it is hinged.

11. In a desk, the combination of two desk sections spaced apart, one ofwhich stands higher than the other, a back member uniting the same whichextends above the higher section, a side piece at the outer edge of thehigher section which is of diminished height from the back of the deskto the front, a combined desk top and cover hinged to the back member,and a leaf hinged to the lower desk section, the outer edge of which isoblique corresponding to the slope of the side piece so that when inupright position it will support one edge of the top, said leaf beingfoldable down upon the top of the desk section to which it is hinged.

12. In a desk, the combination of two desk sections spaced apart, one ofwhich stands higher than the other, a back member uniting the same whichextends above the higher section, a combined desk top and cover hingedto the back member, and a leaf hinged to the inner edge of the lowerdesk section so that it may be turned to a vertical position to supportone edge of the top or be turned down upon the desk section to which itis hinged.

13. In a desk, the combination of two desk sections spaced apart toprovide .room for a typewriting machine, a back member uniting saidsections, a combined desk top and cover which is hinged to the backmember sothat it may be folded down over the space between'said sectionsor raised to uncover the same, and an extension leaf which lies in thesame plane with and adjacent to the upper surface of the top member ofone of said sections and on the inner side thereof and is movable toallow the typewriting machine to be placed in and removed from the desk.v

14,. In a desk, the combination of a left hand desk section, a righthand desk section which is lower than the left hand section, a backuniting said sections which extends above the higher desk section, acombined cover and desk top consisting of two leaves hinged together andone of them hinged to the back member, foldable means for holding thetop in raised position, a side piece on the higher desk section alongthe outer side edge thereof, a leaf hinged to the inner edge of thelower desk section, said side piece and leaf being adapted to supportthe top when unfolded in an inclined position, and engaging means forholding said leaf in upright position.

15. A desk comprising a folding panel providing a combined desk top andcover and means for supporting the same when it is in extended positioncomprising a hinged leaf adapted to be lowered to a horizontal position,the forward edge of which is shaped so as to provide a projection whichstands out beyond the body of the desk, for the purpose described.

16. In a desk of the character described,

the combination of end and back members, a desk section, the top ofwhich is lower than the upper edge of the end and back members,rand acombined bookkeepers desk top and cover adapted to be supported by theend members and comprising leaves hinged together, one of said leavesbeing hinged to said back member.

17. In a desk of the character described, the combination of a flat desktop, back and end members which extend above said fiat desk top, and afolding cover adapted to be supported by the end members and co1nprisingleaves hinged together adapted to be folded to uncover said flat desktop, and when extended to provide a combined bookkeepers desk top andcover.

18. In a'desk of the character described, the combination of a flat desktop, back and end members which extend above said flat desk top, and afolding cover adapted to be supported by the end members and comprisingleaves hinged together adapted to be folded to uncover said flat desktop, and when extended to provide a desk top and cover which inclinesdownwardly.

19. In a desk, the combination of a flat desk top, a back member, and afolding cover comprising leaves hinged together adapted to be folded touncover said fiat desk top, and when extended to provide an inclineddesk top, and foldable supporting means for supporting said foldingcover.

20. A combination desk of the character described, comprising a flatdesk top, a back panel, a combined bookkeepers desk top and coveradapted to be folded down to cover the said flat desk top, rigid meansfor supporting one end of the said cover when it is in its folded downposition, and movable means for supporting the other end of said cover.

21. A combination desk of the character described comprising a fiat desktop, a back panel, a combined bookkeepers desk top and cover hinged tosaid back panel and comprising leaves hinged together and adapted to befolded down to cover said fiat desk top and provide a bookkeepers desktop, rigid means for supporting one end of said folding desk top whenthe same is in its folded down position, and means movable into positionto support the other end of said folding desk top.

22. In a desk, the combination of end and back members, a desk sectionthe top of which is lower than the upper edge of the end and backmembers and which vis arranged adjacent one end of the desk to provide aspace at one side of said section for a typewriting machine, and acombined bookkeepers desk top and cover hinged to the back of the deskand adapted to be supported by the end members.

23. In a desk, the. combination of end and back members, a desk sectionthe top of which is lower than the upper edge of the end and backmembers and which is arranged adjacent one end of the desk to provide aspace at one side of said section for a typewriting machine, a combinedbookkeepers desk top and cover comprising leaves hinged together andadapted to be raisedto uncover said desk section and type writingmachine or folded down to cover the same, and means for supportingopposite ends of said folding cover when the same is in desk closingposition.

24:. In a desk, the combination of .end and back members, a flat desktop which stops short of the end of the desk to provide room for atypewriting machine, and a combined bookkeepers desk top and coverhinged so as to be raised to uncover said desk top and typewritingmachine or lowered to cover the same.

25. In a typewriters and bookkeepers desk a structure comprising a backmember and end members Providing a space for a typewriting machine,inclosed at the back and sides and open in front from the top of thestructure down to the floor, in combination with means providing asupporting surface at one side of the said space, and

a folding bookkeepers desk top and cover comprising two hinged sectionsadapted to be folded down upon said end members to a positioninclineddownwardly from back to front of the desk or to be folded backto uncover the space between said end members.

26. In a combination desk of the character described, the combination ofend and back members, a flat desk section arranged in the space inclosedby said back and end members, a folding cover supported by the endmembers and providing a bookkeepers inclined desk above said flat desksection; said folding cover comprising leaves hinged together andadapted to be folded down to cover the flat desk section or raised touncover the same, the position of said folding cover with relation tothe flat desk section being such as to provide an open space at thefront of the desk when the folding cover is in its folded down position.

ALEXANDER S. FALLS.

